FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2011
Contact: Debra Colbert,
301/332-0813; daccomm@aol.com
Alexandria, VA – On June 13, 2011, Donjon-SMIT, LLC, was notified that a client
vessel was aground in the Mississippi River just above Cubit’s Gap, about 10 miles
below Venice, Louisiana. Traffic on the Mississippi was not impeded by the grounded
vessel. Donjon-SMIT, an OPA-90 salvage and marine firefighting provider, was placed
on standby pending the results of efforts to refloat the vessel with tugs. Approximately
midday on June 14, the vessel’s salvage response plan was activated, and Donjon-SMIT
mobilized its personnel and assets to refloat the vessel.
Within a few hours of the activation of the salvage plan, one of Donjon-SMIT’s Rapid
Response Assessors was on scene to conduct the initial onsite salvage assessment.
Donjon-SMIT’s salvage team arrived shortly after, and efforts began to conduct a
damaged stability assessment and to utilize tugs to refloat the vessel.
“The vessel was broadside into the current, so there was a very real concern that the
situation could worsen quickly,” said Paul Hankins, President of Donjon-SMIT. “We
were also worried about the rapid silting around the vessel.”
Overnight on June 14 and into the morning of June 15, four and eventually five tugs were
used to scour the buildup of silt around the vessel and to attempt to refloat and maneuver
her back into the channel. While these efforts were ongoing, preparations were being
made on a lightering plan should the tug efforts prove to be unsuccessful.
The vessel was refloated and began making significant headway and was eventually
maneuvered back into the channel. The vessel was successfully anchored at South West
Pass Fairway anchorage.
Donjon-SMIT conducted a hull survey of the vessel on the 16th while the vessel was at
anchor. Some damage was found on the bilge keel of the vessel, but her hull was intact
and she was cleared by the U.S. Coast Guard to continue her voyage.
For more information, visit www.donjon-smit.com, or e-mail info@donjon-smit.com.
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